Swimmers shake off long layoff, crush Everett

Showing no signs of rust after not competing in a meet in over three weeks, the Oak Harbor swim and dive team crushed Everett 116-44 at John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool Wednesday.

Oak Harbor coach Amy Nurvic said the long layoff can be a good and bad thing, but "it depends on the year; it depends on the kids." She noted that most of the athletes made the holiday workouts and stayed in shape, but the swimmers can lose "some sharpness" without competition.

The win boosted the Wildcats' record to 7-0.

Although Oak Harbor won easily over the Seagulls, Nurvic noted that the times were not particularly good. She said the lack of competition from Everett and the fact that some of the swimmers chose to workout before the meet affected the times.

Nurvic said the Wildcats will be tested this Saturday, Jan. 9, when Oak Harbor travels to the Kentridge Invitational in Federal Way. Nurvic added, "It should be fun."

Price Hu won two individual events against Everett and swam on two winning relay teams. He took the 200-meter freestyle (2:07.96) and diving event (105.55 points); joined Jacob Jepsen, Yale Rosen and Josh Jepsen to win the 200 medley relay (1:59.47); and teamed with the Jepsens and Matt Bolte to win the 400 free relay (44:03.74).

Jacob Jepsen also won the 100 backstroke (1:07.36), and Josh Jepsen took the 200 individual medley (2:26.27).

Rosen won the 100 breaststroke (1:12.59), and Devin Schell grabbed the 400 free (4:48.53).

Ben Cardinal took the 50 free (:27.83), and Corey Butler won the 100 free (1:12.68). The pair joined John Kaltenbach and Brett Vagt to win the 200 free relay (2:05.68).

Other top three finishers for Oak Harbor included the following:

200 medley relay: 3. Cardinal, Keaton Dieter, Kaltenbach, Butler, 2:26.18.

200 free: 2. Bolte, 2:15.44; 3. Schell, 2:15.55.

200 IM: 3. Cole Weinstein, 2:37.64.

50 free: 3. David Kusnick, :31.87.

100 butterfly: 2. Weinstein, 1:12.67; 3. Vagt, 1:17.92.

100 free: 3. Tucker Lundstrom, 1:16.87.

400 free: 2. Brandon Vagt, 4:59.06; 3. Bolte, 5:03.07.

200 free relay: 2. Jaxon Wolfe, Kusnick, Judd Ford, Lundstrom, 2:19.27.

100 back: 2. Wolfe, 1:13.58.

400 free relay: 2. Brandon Vagt, Schell, Weinstein, Rosen, 4:18.73.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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